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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Uni Freshers 2016 (second thread)

862 replies

soapybox · 13/10/2016 12:27

A new thread!

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Northernlurker · 27/10/2016 13:28

We've seen dd this week. She seemed very well and happy. Think she's missed us quite a bit but she's coping and enjoying the course. She cooked us lunch at her halls yesterday which gave dh and I a chance to do some washing up and cleaning though it really wasn't too bad at all tbh.

Roll on Christmas!

worriedworker01 · 27/10/2016 13:32

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GRW · 27/10/2016 14:19

Worriedworker how worrying for you, especially if you're a long way from Leeds. I hope your DD feels better soon. It's great that young people learn to deal with stuff like getting a GP appointment that would be left to parents if they were at home.

NoahVale · 27/10/2016 14:46

i must say DD did say two of her uni hall mates took overdoses! Sad I said, oh they must go to student support and then she clammed up and wished she hadnt told me. It is be a hotbed for health issues, mental and physical

worriedworker01 · 27/10/2016 15:48

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soapybox · 27/10/2016 17:18

Worriedworker - I hope your DD is better soon!

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worriedworker01 · 27/10/2016 17:43

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Leeds2 · 27/10/2016 19:35

It seems like our DC have come so far in such a short space of time. I couldn't believe that there was already a thread for those wanting to start in 2017!

hellsbells99 · 27/10/2016 23:50

accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/147/parents_newsletter-autumn_201617
For those of you with DCs at Leeds, my DD sent me an email today with a link aimed at parents ......although you may already have been forwarded it!

hellsbells99 · 27/10/2016 23:53

Worriedworker - I hope your DD is recovering. Are her flat mates keeping an eye on her? If you need anyone to check on her, I am sure my DD would - just pm me.
I have both my DDs home for the night tomorrow which will be lovely but then they are going back to uni on Saturday for Halloween parties.

hellsbells99 · 27/10/2016 23:57

Leeds2 - it does seem weird that next year's students are now applying! DD was saying she has just completed her 7th week (6th week of teaching) so is over half way through the term already. No reading week for either of my DDs. Both are doing stem subjects so a lot of lectures and 9am starts - which definitely stops some of the partying!

jaxxyj · 28/10/2016 00:10

Thanks for all the well wishes re DS he is getting better I think, still hasn't paid his hall bill as he cant find the paperwork ( I made up a concertina file for him and everything). Dd just got exam timetable -has just one exam at end of term, turns out it is on the last day of exams 21st Dec so she won't be home until after that!! She has such bad luck with exam dates - had two clashes for a levels bless!

homebythesea · 28/10/2016 07:51

Goodness me the illness and the worry! My heart goes out to those in that horrible situation

I had a little proud moment yesterday- DS has been through his first essay crisis and gave up a clubbing night to get it done on time. For him this was a massive sacrifice and showed me he has his priorities straight!

worriedworker01 · 28/10/2016 12:56

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GasLightShining · 28/10/2016 13:20

The newsletter is a good idea.

Cardiff Met have sent some information to parents about accommodation next year. Stuff like students should wait until the fayre in January, use uni registered landlords, any documents signed will be binding so be careful etc. Have to say I panicked a bit when I saw the envelope addressed to the parents/guardians of Gas Junior!.

Home - very mature of your DS. Hope mine will be the same

Worried - sure a weekend of mum pampering DD will be appreciated. Hope she is feeling better soon

dottygamekeeper · 28/10/2016 15:43

worried my DS was hospitalised in the 4th week of term, and I am still not convinced he has completely recovered, so I know how you and your DD are feeling. Its a worry when they are so far away, and they (nor you) know the GP, the system, etc, I do hope she got what she needed from her GP appointment today.

I had to rush off down to Cornwall and spent a week in a holiday home looking after him once he was discharged, and was very touched when he put a lovely post on facebook thanking me for getting him back on his feet again! (He is usually very undemonstrative, so this was a real turn up for the books)

I have been shocked at how many students arrive and then crumble under the pressure of living away from home, adapting to uni life etc - both my DS and DD have had people in their flats leave within the first week or so and it seems such a shame when presumably they had worked hard to get their offers and A levels and had been looking forward to the next stage in their lives. I don't think I had realised quite what a big step this is for some young people - school Yrs 12 and 13 had been so focussed on the positive sides of going to uni and the need to get the grades, that it was easy to forget how difficult the transition to independence might be.

Squirrills · 28/10/2016 16:30

Yes I agree about it being a big step. A huge life change even for those who take it in their stride. Elsewhere on MN and in the media in general, 18 year olds get such a bashing and yet to me they really are still children, albeit 6'3" Grin.

I hope all the poorly DC continue to improve.

Second year accommodation - yes that will be the next big thing. There are vast differences between unis though so what may be true in one (don't rush, wait until January) is not true of all. I have DS1 at Warwick where most students like to live in Leamington. His group left it until January to seek 3rd year accommodation and it was really difficult, everything had been snapped up before Christmas.

Lovelybangers · 28/10/2016 18:02

I'm really missing DS now. It hasn't even been 4 weeks - but it's the longest time we have been apart.

Who said that the baby years were hard?

Ta1kinpeece · 28/10/2016 20:00

I last saw DD when I dropped her off in September
I'll next see her mid December

when I was a kid I went for months without seeing parents / grandparents

I find the "always on" contact frankly weird
the fact that I do not hear from DD for days on end I regard as a sign of her resilience

one solar storm and the world is back where I was as a kid.
My kids are ready .... are yours ??

Cherryburn · 28/10/2016 20:46

one solar storm and the world is back where I was as a kid. My kids are ready .... are yours ??

Well, since you ask...

I hear from my DD every few days on average. Might be a text, might be a call. I popped up to see her last weekend and bought her lunch (she's in Oxford and I'm in London, so an hour away by train) and we spent a very pleasant few hours together. She didn't need me to visit and I didn't need to visit her but it was lovely all the same.

So yes, she keeps in contact. But she doesn't judge any of her friends who keep in contact with their parents more/less than her. Which I regard as a sign of her maturity and tolerance.

Hope the DC who have been struggling with illness are feeling better (DD had a dose of freshers flu which thankfully she's recovered from). Fingers crossed that we aren't hit by a solar storm any time soon Hmm

Ta1kinpeece · 28/10/2016 20:50

cherry
I get the odd words from DD every few days
we have kept her consultant appointments here

I was at uni when it was 1 payphone for 360 of us
it worked
I aim for that level

Cherryburn · 28/10/2016 20:53

Good for you. What's your point?

Peaceandl0ve · 28/10/2016 21:04

When we were at uni it was difficult to keep in touch some didn't. Now it is easier to keep in contact so we do! Does really matter that me and my DD have brief chat most days, sometimes the chats are more lengthy?

Why do you feel the need to knock others Talkinpeace?

NapoleonsNose · 28/10/2016 21:05

Not been on the thread for a while. DD is home next week from Tues to Sun and I'm so looking forward to seeing her. She's been gone since mid-September so its going to be lovely to have her home for a visit. The cooking seems to be going well - I keep getting texts asking for recipes and how to make stuff. This week it was green thai curry and gnocchi bake. At least she's not living on Pot Noodles and ready meals! She had her first piece of work back this week and got 67 which she was over the moon about as she reckoned she would only get 'like 20 or something'!

Hope the poorly DC feel better soon.

Coconutty · 28/10/2016 21:06

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